Sko. 9.] POULTRY. 137 



of the whole, when dressed, was 212ilbs. ; 198 lbs. were sold for a shilling 

 a pound, New Enghuid currency, amounting in the aggregate to $33. The 

 whole number at tliat price would have amounted to $3.5 41. Now I think 

 that is doing qitite well, and if anybody among your army of readers can do 

 better tlian that, I think they deserve a premium ; but until that is done, I 

 think I can claim the palm." 



And, in our opinion, she is fairly entitled to it. We hope, however, that 

 some other woman will try to win it from her by fair competition in this ap- 

 propriate field of \\«oman's labor. 



And here is another of the same sort, which should tend to encourage 

 other women to attempt the same plan to make a little " pin [feather] 

 money." It is to encourage others that we collect and publish these 

 facts. 



" J. E. Alton, of Quinsiganiond, Mass., writes us that Mrs. M. Bennett, of 

 Auburn, Mass., had a three-fourths wild turkey, of very large size, which 

 laid 11 eggs, all of which she hatched and raised. At six months old the 

 imited weight of the eleven was 220 lbs. Some of the male birds weighed 

 34 lbs., and the lightest hens 17 lbs. One male sold for $7, and the whole 

 for $55." 



These, however, arc fancy prices ; but at the steady market prices of 

 dressed turkeys, which will average 10 cents a pound wholesale, in New 

 York, and considerably more fur choice birds, the raising and fatting of 

 turkej'S is a ]irotitable branch of farming. 



It is true that young turkeys, from the time they are old enough to turn 

 out to range for themselves, are voracious eaters, and would destroy some 

 crops, and so would swine, if permitted to run at large. The tanner finds it 

 profitable to keep a lot for swine, and so would he to devote a whole field to 

 turkeys; and if he will do that, where they can forage for themselves, they 

 will need very little attention, and will not be likely to get into much mis- 

 chief. If rightly managed, a flock of turkeys will do more good than harm 

 on a farm, for they are great destroyers of insects. It will be found profit- 

 able to plant caljbages, turnips, bagas, peas, oats, wheat, and clover pur- 

 posely for the turkeys to feed upon. This can be managed on a small scale 

 tv) advantafo l>y nsinfr a movable fence. We have no doubt about the fact 

 that a turkey farm would be as ]irofitable as a sheep farm, or a milk farm, 

 or a beef or pork-making farm. In all new sections of country, where mast 

 is abundant, turkeys will fatten ujion it entirely ; and in all sections where 

 field feeding is practiced, there is no l)etter stock to run in a corn-field than 

 turkeys. Even where corn is worth a dollar a bushel, it has been found 

 ])rofitablo to feeil it to turkeys to fatten them for market. One considerable 

 item in tlie account in all the old States would be the value of the manure 

 made from such feeding. 



The most important fact in turkey raising is not to overetock yourself, for 

 then your flock of turkeys will become pests to yourself and neighbors — a 

 set of marauding, piratical thieves. 



